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186. Ten Healed, Or One?


Luke 17:11-19
Key Verse: Then He said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well."
Luke 17:19

At last, Jesus has left the crowd behind and again is continuing His journey toward Jerusalem. His path takes Him and His disciples along the border of Judea and Samaria, between the pure Jews, and the hated half breeds of the day.

On His way, Jesus encounters an interesting group of people. We only learn the nationality of one of them and, though we don't know the nationality of the others, because Jesus sends them to the priests in Jerusalem we can probably assume that at least some of them are Jews. Isn't it interesting that through leprosy, a disease that causes much suffering, the dividing wall of hatred has come down for the sake of companionship?

We encountered one leper earlier on our Journey. Lepers were the dreaded untouchables of the day. Their disease cut them off from all they loved. It was a very lonely life. No wonder these people had banded together.

At our first encounter with a leper, (Matt. 8:1-4) Jesus healed the man and then sent him to the priests to have him pronounced clean. This time, Jesus just sends them to the priests and in trust, they obey.

How did they know that they were healed? Did they see it on each other and then look down at their own healthy skin? How long did it take? How far had they gotten before they discovered the miracle that had taken place? We don't know. All that we do know is that only one man returned to give thanks. Did the others plan to give thanks after seeing the priest?  Perhaps, but as with many good intentions, the bible doesn't record them ever getting around to it.

Only one lone man returned and he should have been an enemy of Jesus at that. Even Jesus seems shocked at this lack of gratitude on the part of the other nine.  After all, in healing, Jesus had restored all of them to family and community and probably work. He had given them their physical lives back, yet only one returned to give thanks.

When this man acknowledges what Jesus has done for him, Jesus does not send him back to the priests again. The priests are for those who are under the law. This man was not only healed on the outside, but in his heart as well. He didn't need a priest to pronounce him clean because the Great High Priest, Jesus Himself, had pronounced him clean indeed!

How much of the world is like the nine lepers who had been blessed by God and just kept going? He has died for them all, and offered His forgiveness, yet most people just keep going on with their lives, glad for health, wealth and family, thinking that they deserve the blessings that they have. As in our story today, I'm sure that Jesus continues to be amazed at our lack of gratitude for all He has done. Today, be sure that you are the one who returns and gives thanks to Him for all He has done for you.

Hymn: "I'm So Glad Jesus Lifted Me"

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